Poll: Democrats, GOP flip support of high court

Forty-seven percent of people approve of the Supreme Court's job performance, according to a Gallup poll released Monday; a near-record 46 percent disapprove.

The survey found that, since last year, Republicans and Democrats have seen their approval of the court flip.

A similar poll last month found confidence in the court, along with other government institutions, had fallen to 30 percent.

ADVERTISEMENT

The numbers come after the Supreme Court finished up its term with a controversial decision last month that allowed some companies to opt out of paying for coverage of some types of birth control on religious grounds.

Forty-four percent of Democrats approve of the court, down from 58 percent last year. On the other hand, 51 percent of Republicans approve of the court, up from 30 percent last year.

The contraception mandate decision has inflamed Democrats, with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi(D-Calif.) saying last week: "We should be afraid of the court."

Democrats have introduced legislation in an attempt to counter the birth control ruling.

Forty-four percent of independents approve of the court, largely unchanged since last year.

Gallup notes that high-profile decisions in one party’s favor tend largely to sway approval ratings. For example, Democratic approval of the court shot to a nearly all-time high of 68 percent in 2012 after the court ruled that the ObamaCare individual mandate requiring people to buy health insurance or pay a fine was constitutional.

The poll surveyed 1,013 people from July 7-10 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.